Henry Grey (MP)
Encyclopedia
Henry Grey was a British politician, born Henry Neville.
The younger son of Richard Neville of Billingbear House
in Berkshire
and Katherine Grey, daughter of Ralph Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Werke, he changed his surname to Grey in 1707 to inherit the estates of his uncle Ralph Grey, 4th Baron Grey of Werke, in Northumberland
.
He entered Parliament in 1709 at a by-election for Wendover
through the influence of his friend Richard Hampden. He successfully contested this seat in 1710, but was defeated at Orford
. Financial difficulties and attempts to sell his northern estates precluded him from taking an active part in Parliament. However, he was politically a Whig
, voting against peace with Spain in 1711. He was defeated at
Berwick-upon-Tweed
in the 1713 election
, despite the Grey interest in that town, and at a by-election in Wallingford
in 1714.
He returned to Parliament in 1719 for Wallingford, which he held until 1722. He was defeated in the 1722 election
at Berkshire
, but was returned at a by-election in 1723 for Berwick-upon-Tweed, where his brother Grey Neville
held the other seat. He inherited his brother's estate of Billingbear House when he died later that year.
He was returned in 1734 for Reading
, where he sat until his death in 1740. He had married Elizabeth Griffin, daughter of James Griffin, 2nd Baron Griffin of Braybrooke, but they had no children.
The younger son of Richard Neville of Billingbear House
Billingbear House
Billingbear House was situated in the parish of Waltham St. Lawrence in Berkshire, England, about six miles from Windsor.Originally owned by the Bishop of Winchester, the land was given to Sir Henry Neville in 1549 by King Edward VI...
in Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
and Katherine Grey, daughter of Ralph Grey, 2nd Baron Grey of Werke, he changed his surname to Grey in 1707 to inherit the estates of his uncle Ralph Grey, 4th Baron Grey of Werke, in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
.
He entered Parliament in 1709 at a by-election for Wendover
Wendover (UK Parliament constituency)
Wendover was a borough constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832...
through the influence of his friend Richard Hampden. He successfully contested this seat in 1710, but was defeated at Orford
Orford (UK Parliament constituency)
Orford was a constituency of the House of Commons. Consisting of the town of Orford in Suffolk, it elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote version of the first past the post system of election until it was disenfranchised in 1832.-History:...
. Financial difficulties and attempts to sell his northern estates precluded him from taking an active part in Parliament. However, he was politically a Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
, voting against peace with Spain in 1711. He was defeated at
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed (UK Parliament constituency)
Berwick-upon-Tweed is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.-Boundaries:...
in the 1713 election
British general election, 1713
The British general election, 1713 produced further gains for the governing Tory party. Since 1710 Robert Harley had lead a government appointed after the downfall of the Whig junto, attempting to pursue a moderate and non-controversial policy, but had increasingly struggled to deal with the...
, despite the Grey interest in that town, and at a by-election in Wallingford
Wallingford (UK Parliament constituency)
Wallingford was a constituency in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It was a parliamentary borough created in 1295, centred on the market town Wallingford in Berkshire . It used to return two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons; this was cut to one in 1832, and...
in 1714.
He returned to Parliament in 1719 for Wallingford, which he held until 1722. He was defeated in the 1722 election
British general election, 1722
The British general election of 1722 elected members to serve in the House of Commons of the 6th Parliament of Great Britain. This event took place following the merger of the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The election was fiercely fought, with contests taking place...
at Berkshire
Berkshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Berkshire was a parliamentary constituency in England, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of England until 1707, then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885...
, but was returned at a by-election in 1723 for Berwick-upon-Tweed, where his brother Grey Neville
Grey Neville
Grey Neville was an English politician. He was Member of Parliament for Abingdon from 1705 to 1708, Wallingford from 1708 to 1710 and Berwick-upon-Tweed from 1715 to 1723.-Life:...
held the other seat. He inherited his brother's estate of Billingbear House when he died later that year.
He was returned in 1734 for Reading
Reading (UK Parliament constituency)
Reading was a parliamentary borough, and later a borough constituency, represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It comprised the town of Reading in the county of Berkshire....
, where he sat until his death in 1740. He had married Elizabeth Griffin, daughter of James Griffin, 2nd Baron Griffin of Braybrooke, but they had no children.